Range backguard and mounting assembly



Aug. 29, 1967 c. s HELDENBRAND 3,338,232

RANGE BACKGUARD AND MOUNTING ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1964 INVENTOR, CARL S. HELDEAIBHA 1110 A T TORMEYS Aug.- 29, 1967 c. s. HELDENBRAND 3,

RANGE BACKGUARD AND MOUNTING ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed Dec. 15, 1964 INVENTOR CARL .S". HELDENBHAND dflwla mflmwg ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ohio Filed Dec. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 418,478 7 Claims. (Cl. 126Z14) The present invention relates as indicated to a backguard and mounting assembly for domestic cooking ranges of both gas and electric types.

As well understood by those in the art, backguards comprise a section at the rear or back of the range extending upwardly from the plane of the cooking surface, and function to add to the decor of the range or to house certain control apparatus for operating the range, or both. In the past such backguards were either integrally formed with the cooking top, or separately constructed and rigidly mounted at the factory to the range chassis. Either structural arrangement was objectionable for several reasons. The upwardly extending backguard necessitated a larger, normally specially formed shipping container thereby adding to the shipping costs. Moreover, by virtue of such upward extension, the backguard was more susceptible to damage during shipping. Further, in order to expose the control equipment housed in the backguard, for repair or the like, it was consequently necessary to move the range substantially away from the wall against which the range stood.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a backguard which can be shipped while disassembled and laid flat on the cooking top but which remains electrically wired, and which can be simply and quickly mounted in an upright, operative position at the shipping destination.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a backguard and mounting assembly constructed to permit such shipment while disassembled and which is mounted in place at the site by means of simply manipulatable backguard retaining members operatively carried by the range chassis and which can be shifted to a backguard-retaining position and held therein by simple screw tightening.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a backguard which can be quickly dismounted and laid on its face to expose the back thereof thereby to permit servicing of the control equipment and wiring housed in the backguard without necessitating movement of the entire range.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a range having operatively mounted thereon the backguard assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view showing one corner of the range and backguard, with the backguard and related range parts being broken away in certain areas to show the manner in which the backguard and the end of the adjacent side rail of the cooking top are releasably retained;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the backguard support bracket and the backguard retaining member, with the backguard retainer member being shown in clamping position;

FIG. 4 is a partially fragmentary front view of the backguard support bracket and the backguard retainer member, looking in the direction indicated by line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the backguard support bracket and the backguard retainer, taken on line 55 of FIG. 3, with the backguard being removed for purposes of clarity; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan view, partially fragmentary, of the range with the backguard being shown in a dismounted position lying face down on the cooking top.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like reference characters, and initially to FIG. 1, a range generally indicated at 10 is provided with a bottom hinged door 12 having a handle 14 for moving the door between open and closed positions in the usual manner. The range 10 in the form shown is gas operated and is provided with surface burners commonly designated at 16. Side rails 18 and 19 are mounted on the cook top 20 at opposed sides thereof and extend upwardly from the cooking surface, with the cook top 20 being hinged at the rear thereof in any suitable manner forming no part of the present invention to permit pivoting movement thereof upwardly from the plane of the burners 16. A backguard generally indicated at 22 is mounted at the top and rear of the range and extends upwardly from the cook top surface. In the form shown the backguard 22-has mounted thereon a control housing 24 in which is mounted a clock unit. The backguard is also equipped with a convenience outlet 26. It will be apparent that, depending on the range model, the backguard could be equipped with additional control means or could be relatively plain and entirely devoid of associated controls.

Referring to FIG. 2, the backguard 22 comprises an inclined front wall 34, a flat top wall 35, abbreviated rear wall portions 36 and 37, and a bottom wall 38. An end cap member 40 flanged at all sides thereof fits within and is secured to the backguard relatively adjacent the end thereof remote from the clock unit. The end cap 40 and the backguard bottom 38 are formed with aligned openings to receive a clamping finger 42 engageable with the portion of the end cap 40 adjacent the opening through which the clamping finger extends thereby to releasably clamp the backguard in mounted position. It will be understood that the opposite end of the backguard 22 is similarly apertured and clamped thereby to provide tight clamping of the backguard and both ends thereof.

Disposed beneath the backguard and operatively secured to the range chassis is a flue member 44 having a top wall portion 45 and an irregular-shaped front wall portion 46 extending normal thereto, the latter including an intermediate portion overlying a rear lip portion 46a of the cook top. The flue member 44 is secured adjacent one end thereof to a supporting flange 47 of a support bracket, to be hereinafter described, by screw 48. The front wall 46 of the flue member is provided with vent openings (not shown) for venting the oven gases and is prefer-ably chrome plated where exposed to additionally serve as a trim piece immediately below the backguard. The flue member is mounted in a similar manner adjacent its opposite end.

The bottom 38 of the backguard is formed with openings 49 adjacent each end thereof for receiving the screws 48. The backguard can thus be properly aligned when mounting the same. The screws 48 function additionally to prevent shifting of the backguard when the same is clamped by the clamping fingers 42.

Each clamping finger 42 forms the uppermost portion of a backguard retainer member generally indicated at 50. The backguard retainer member 50 is formed with an inclined slot 52 through which extends a screw 54 which is threadedly received in an opening formed in a backguard support bracket generally indicated at 56. A washer 57 is disposed between the head of the screw 54 and the retaining member 50. The retainer member 50 further includes a laterally extending bottom flange 60 which can be grasped for moving the retainer member to and from a position wherein the clamping finger 42 engages the adjacent flange of the end cap 40 of the backguard. When the retainer member is moved to such clamping position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, the screw 54 is tightened thereby firmly to maintain the backguard in its mounted position. To unclamp the backguard, the screw 54 is loosened and the retainer member 50 pushed rearwardly, or to the right, as viewed in FIG. 3, by means of the flange 60, to move the clamping finger 42 to a position, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3, wherein the finger is entirely within the plane of the openings formed in the backguard, the end cap 40 and the support bracket 56, whereby the backguard 22 can be freely lifted. As best seen in FIG. 4, the upper portion 62 of the backguard retainer member 50 is laterally offset from'the main body of the retaining member, with the clamping finger 42 being formed at the top of such upper offset section.

The backguard support bracket 56 includes a central, vertically extending section 70, a generally horizontal section 72 at the top of the central section 70 and extending laterally therefrom, a section 74 parallel to the central section 70 and extending vertically upwardly from the laterally extending section 72, and the top supporting flange section 47 above described. The latter is formed with a generally rectangular-shaped opening 78 through which the clamping finger 42 extends. The support bracket 56 further includes a vertical flange 80 extending laterally from the main section 70, a bottom horizontal flange 82 at the bottom of the flange section 80, and a bottom flange section 84 extending laterally from the bottom of the main section 70, with the flange section 84 being generally L-shaped in cross section and including a downwardly depending portion 86. The flanges 82 and 84 are formed with openings through which fastener means commonly designated at 88 extend for fastening the support bracket 56 to contiguous supporting sections of the range chassis.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the range is shipped, the backguard 22 is dismounted and placed preferably face down on the cooking top 20. It will be apparent that in such flat position the overall height of the range is substantially reduced thereby reducing the size of the shipping container required and consequently reducing shipping costs, as well as reducing the likelihood of damaging the backguard during shipping.

As above noted, an important advantage of the present invention is that the control equipment housed in the backguard can remain wired when dismounted and laid flat, with the wires, shown commonly at 90, being sufliciently slack to permit such movement. In the form shown the wires 90 extend from the clock unit 25 and the convenience outlet 26 through an opening 91 in the bottom 38 of the backguard, an opening 92 in the top wall 45 of the flue member 44 into a raceway 94 mounted on the range chassis, for ultimate connection with an electrical source.

A cover plate 96 is mounted on the rear of the housing 24 preferably by screws commonly designated at 98 thereby to permit quick removal thereof for access to the housing interior for repair, bulb replacement or the like following range installation. One of the screws 98 extends through a side extension 100 of the cover plate into engagement with a threaded opening formed in a vertically extending member 102 secured at its opposite ends to the rear wall portions 36 and 37. The servicing of the clock unit, e.g., can thus be performed without necessitating movement of the range away from the wall or the like against which it is mounted, which comprises a decided advantage over present, rigid backguard constructions which require movement of the entire range away from the wall for servicing the control equipment housed in the backguard. 1

When it is desired to mount the backguard following shipment or repair of the control equipment housed in the backguard, the latter is moved to an upright position on the flue member 44, with the screws 48 serving prop erly to align such positioning as above described. The clamping fingers 42 are normally retained in their withdrawn, non-clamping position when the backguard is dismounted whereby the clamping fingers do not interfere with the aligning and positioning of the backguard upright on the flue member 44. The cook top 20 is raised to expose the retainer members 50, and the screws 54 are loosened. The retainer members 50 are then moved to a forward position through manipulation of their flanges 60 to move the fingers 42 to a clamping position. In such forward position of the retainer members, the screws 54 will normally engage the bottoms of the inclined slots 52 formed in the retaining member. The screws 54 are then tightened and the backguard is firmly mounted in place. The cook top is then lowered into operative position.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A range backguard and mounting assembly, comprising a backguard mounted adjacent the rear of the cook top surface of the range and extending upwardly therefrom, said backguard including bottom wall means having formed therein openings relatively adjacent the longitudinal ends thereof, backguard support brackets mounted on the range chassis at opposite sides thereof adjacent the rear of the cook top surface, said backguard support brackets supporting said bottom wall means of said backguard, said backguard support brackets in the area thereof supporting said bottom wall of said backguard being formed with openings aligned with the openings formed in said bottom wall means of said backguard, and a backguard retainer member mounted on each of said support brackets for movement relative thereto, said backguard retainer members including an upper clamping portion extending upwardly through said aligned openings and movable between a clamping position tightly engaging said bottom Wall means of said backguard and an unclamped position freeing said backguard for dismounting the same.

.2. The combination of claim 1 further including means for maintaining said retaining members in their adjusted position on said support brackets.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retainer members are provided with laterally extending front flanges to facilitate movement of said retainer members on said support brackets.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retainer members are formed with slots for controlling movement thereof relative to said support brackets.

5. A range backguard and mounting assembly, comprising a backguard mounted adjacent the rear of the cook top surface of the range to extend upwardly therefrom, said backguard including bottom wall means having formed therein openings relatively adjacent the longitudinal ends thereof, backguard support brackets mounted on the range chassis at opposite sides thereof adjacent the rear of the cook top surface, said backguard support brackets supporting said bottom wall means of said backguard, said backguard support brackets in the area thereof supporting said bottom Wall of said backguard being formed with openings aligned with the openings formed -in said bottom wall means of said backguard, a backguard retainer member mounted on each of said support brackets for movement relative thereto, each of said rctainer members being formed with a slot for controlling movement thereof relative to the associated support bracket and further including an upper clamping portion extending upwardly through said aligned openings and movable between a clamping position tightly engaging said bottom Wall means of said backguard and an unclamped position freeing said backguard for dismounting the same, and clamping screw means extending through each of said slots into threaded engagement with openings formed in said support brackets, with said clamping screws when tightened serving to maintain said retainer members in their adjusted positions.

6. A range backguard and mounting assembly, comprising a backguard mounted adjacent the rear of the cook top of the range and extending upwardly therefrom, said backguard having a bottom Wall formed with openings relatively adjacent the longitudinal ends thereof, support means mounted on the range chassis at opposite sides thereof for supporting said backguard, said support means 2 being formed with a pair of openings aligned with said openings in said bottom wall of said backguard, backguard retainer means mounted adjacent each of said support means for movement relative thereto, each of said backguard retainer means including a clamping portion extending through said aligned openings with said clamping portion in one position of adjustment releasably clamping said backguard to said support means and in a second position of adjustment freeing said backguard for dismounting the same, and means carried by said support means for locking said backguard retainer means in the adjusted position thereof.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein each of said retainer means is formed with a slot for controlling movement thereof relative to said support means, and said locking means comprises screw members extending through said slots into threaded engagement with open- I ings formed in said support means, with said screws when tightened serving to maintain said retainer means in their adjusted positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,022,576 4/ 1912 Beehler 292-104 X 2,357,025 8/ 1944 Sandberg 126-214 2,453,832 11/1948 Dadson 17452 2,635,600 4/1953 Schulze.

FOREIGN PATENTS 11,907 1912 Great Britain.

LEWIS H. MYERS, Primary Examiner.

H. W. COLLINS, Assistant Examiner. 

6. A RANGE BACKGUARD AND MOUNTING ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING A BACKGUARD MOUNTED ADJACENT THE REAR OF THE COOK TOP OF THE RANGE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID BACKGUARD HAVING A BOTTOM WALL FORMED WITH OPENINGS RELATIVELY ADJACENT THE LONGITUDINAL ENDS THEREOF, SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTED ON THE RANGE CHASSIS AT OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF FOR SUPPORTING SAID BACKGUARD, SAID SUPPORT MEANS BEING FORMED WITH A PAIR OF OPENINGS ALIGNED WITH SAID OPENINGS IN SAID BOTTOM WALL OF SAID BACKGUARD, BACKGUARD RETAINER MEANS MOUNTED ADJACENT EACH OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, EACH OF SAID BACKGUARD RETAINER MEANS INCLUDING A CLAMPING PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ALIGNED OPENINGS WITH SAID CLAMPING PORTIN IN ONE POSITION OF ADJUSTMENT RELEASABLY CLAMPING SAID BACKGUARD TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND IN A SECOND POSITION OF ADJUSTMENT FREEING SAID BACKGUARD FOR DISMOUNTING THE SAME, AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID BACKGUARD RETAINER MEANS IN THE ADJUSTED POSITION THEREOF. 